State and local investigators uncovered a large scale methamphetamine distribution ring earlier this month, following a 10 month investigation that spanned two states and various Western North Carolina counties.

According to a criminal complaint and affidavit released last week by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, nine individuals from WNC were rounded up in the investigation which began last fall. The investigation was spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and was assisted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office.

Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale was elected Second Vice President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) on Saturday, Aug. 20, during the Association’s 104th Annual Conference, which was held in Cabarrus County.

Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons performed the inauguration ceremony for Commissioner Beale and the other elected county commissioners who will serve as NCACC officers in 2011-2012.

According to Beale, it is crucial to continue the tradition of the NCACC and of counties working together on a state level, and he is excited to be a part of the process.

When the N.C. Senate reconvenes on Sept. 12 they will likely be voting on whether or not to ratify an amended gaming compact between the state and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that would allow for live table games at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel resort. The North Carolina General Assembly passed a Joint Resolution (938) in July that declared which legislation and bills would be considered in September.

According to the Resolution, the Senate will address “Bills to ratify and make statutory conforming changes pursuant to a Tribal Compact negotiated by the Governor.”

On Tuesday, August 15, dispatch received an emergency call at 9:47 about a head on collision on south Skeenah Road. The caller told dispatch that a female driver hit a NCDOT motorgrader truck and the woman was pinned in her car.

According to Sgt. Derek Trelley, Evelyn Elaine Leigh Phillips, 22, of Franklin, was traveling southwest on south Skeenah Road in a 1985 Mercury when she crossed the centerline in a curve and struck the motorgrader, driven by Douglas Brian Stamey, 41, also of Franklin. Stamey received no injuries from the accident. Phillips was airlifted to Mission Hospital where she later died from her injuries.

She was the daughter of Larry F. Phillips and Evelyn Williamson, and is survived by a son, Jonathan Garrett Kresal of the home; two sisters,